Work and Health Programme
The Work and Health Programme was a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) programme that aimed to support disabled people, vulnerable people, and long term unemployed people find suitable work. The scheme was first introduced in England and Wales in November 2017 with an progressive rollout that lasted until March 2018.[1]
History
[edit]The Work and Health Programme was launched in November 2017, as a successor to Work Choice.[2][3] The Work and Health Programme was rolled out progressively, with all areas being set up by March 2018. The programme was delivered by 5 different providers across England and Wales.[1] Funding for The Work and Health Programme was drastically reduced compared to the prior Work Choice and Work Programme schemes that it replaced. At £130 million a year, its funding represented only 20% of the previous two schemes' budgets combined.[4][5] Eligibility for the programme included disabled individuals, those unemployed for over two years, and individuals considered a priority, such as care leavers, refugees, or homeless people.[1][3]
The programme had supported 300,000 people by November 2023, with 31% of individuals still in their jobs after two years.[6]
The programme stopped accepting new referrals at the end of September 2024. Support was continied until July 2026 for participants already partaking in the programme.[1] The ending of the programme caused concerns that there would be gaps in provision for disabled people trying to get into work. Maximus Inc. claimed that the gap in provision meant that the UK was without a form of national support for disabled people seeking work for the first time since 2000.[6]
Following the closure of the Work and Health Programme, research found that those who took part in it voluntarily were more likely to have found more paid work, compared to those who were forced to take part.[7] However, 8 out of 10 disabled individuals on the programme were unable to secure work through the scheme.[8]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Work and Health Programme statistics: background information and methodology". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ amy.s (20 June 2025). "Employability Day: Lessons from Work Choice & the Work and Health Programme". Maximus UK. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- 1 2 "The beginning of the end for contracted employment programmes?". House of Commons Library. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "DWP employment programme funding set for 80% cut". Learning and Work Institute England. 12 December 2015. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "LGA briefing - new DWP programme for the unemployed | Local Government Association". www.local.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- 1 2 Tapper, James (21 April 2024). "Help for disabled people in England and Wales to get jobs is axed amid benefits crackdown". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "DWP's Work Programme More Effective When It's By Choice, Not Force | Disability Rights UK". www.disabilityrightsuk.org. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "More than 8 out of 10 disabled claimants fail to find work through the DWP Work and Health Programme | Disability Rights UK". www.disabilityrightsuk.org. Retrieved 12 August 2026.